Chapter 453
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Translator: Ace
Chapter:
Chapter Title: Dual Sect Summons
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The World Honored One departed.
The Pure Land reverted once more to its former state. Moments later, an old monk with hair and beard as white as snow approached Lu Yang and bowed with utmost respect.
"Amitabha Buddha."
"Senior Hongyun, our Pure Land has suffered countless losses in this great calamity. In a few days, we will seal ourselves off from the outside world. Please, benefactor, do not linger in Jiangxi any longer."
His tone was steady, still carrying the humility befitting a lower realm cultivator, but the underlying confidence could not be concealed. Clearly, after uniting as one for recovery, the Pure Land's Buddhist cultivators had regained their composure. Lu Yang, on the other hand—even while still in the state of falsely holding a golden position—felt a chill grip his heart.
*This forsaken place truly allows no room for the slightest complacency.*
Lu Yang cautioned himself inwardly. But just then, a sword light streaked from afar, boldly plunging into the Pure Land. A figure emerged from within.
He wore a white robe, a long sword at his waist.
Lu Yang glanced over, his brows lifting at once. Though the man had concealed his aura expertly, with no divine abilities on display, he could not deceive Lu Yang in his current state.
*[Sword Edge Gold].*
This man was also at peak Foundation Establishment, five divine abilities held in check, one somewhat feeble—clearly freshly formed.
Lu Yang pinched his fingers in calculation, the visitor's identity instantly clear.
*Perfected Being Subduing Yao.*
Of the Sword Pavilion's three generational dao titles—Demon-Quelling, Warding Evil, Subduing Yao—Perfected Being Subduing Yao had never surfaced amid the chaos!
*I heard he was at late Foundation Establishment before; now he's perfected. Must have broken through in seclusion. Among the three Perfected Beings, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling was mere fodder for proving [Sword Dao Fruit Position], Perfected Being Warding Evil despaired of the [White Wax Gold] path, leaving Perfected Being Subduing Yao as the Sword Pavilion's true lineage!*
*[Sword Edge Gold]* proved it.
This fruit position reigned supreme in the metal element, and Perfected Being Subduing Yao had stayed utterly invisible from start to finish—plainly under the Sword Pavilion's strict protection.
The realization put Lu Yang on slight alert.
*Someone like this could have secluded until the very end. His emergence now likely spells ill tidings.*
Sure enough, Lu Yang's expectations held.
"Lord Minghe."
Perfected Being Subduing Yao cupped his hands toward Lu Yang the instant he appeared.
"By immortal decree of [Rigid Form Preaching True Lord], I come to escort Lord Minghe back to the sect."
Lu Yang's brows rose faintly. That was his sword dao avatar's dao title in the Sword Pavilion—now voiced openly by Perfected Being Subduing Yao before him, a clear signal that the avatar's identity stood exposed. Which made sense; toward the end, he'd dropped all pretense.
Before Lu Yang could reply, an escaping light arrived.
He turned to see yet another surprise: Jun Tong, Foundation Establishment Perfected Being under the Primal Saint Sect's [Painted Silk Variegated Gauze True Lord]!
And the same as Perfected Being Subduing Yao.
Jun Tong—late Foundation Establishment before—was now at the peak. He bowed reverently to Lu Yang upon manifesting.
"By decree of [Clear and Pure Flying Snow True Lord], I invite Lord Hongyun to return to the sect."
Lu Yang found himself at a loss for words.
Minghe aside—that truly was his sword dao avatar—Hongyun? Heaven and earth could attest: pure fabrication by the overly imaginative. He'd simply never denied it!
*They're forcing a choice.*
Lu Yang eyed both sides. Perfected Being Subduing Yao for the Sword Pavilion; Jun Tong for the Primal Saint Sect. Each backed by their True Lord's intent.
He knew full well: neither sect prized him, but the [Sword Dao Fruit Position] he held.
*The more they crave it, the less I yield!*
String them along!
Hand it over, and his value evaporated. Holding it kept opportunists at bay.
*Besides, I mean to reopen and carry the [Sword Dao Fruit Position] away. Why surrender it?*
With that, Lu Yang smiled mildly.
"This seat plans a brief respite overseas. No haste; seek me again in a few days."
He gave Perfected Being Subduing Yao and Jun Tong no chance to respond, striding forth and vanishing from all sight. A True Lord still, he deigned to converse with lower realm cultivators only for their patrons' sake—hardly to be browbeaten by them.
Overseas, Earthfire Sea Heart Furnace.
Lu Yang shrouded his aura with [Wall Earth], seizing the false golden position's lingering state to finally inspect his spoils.
*Save for the World Honored One, all fell within my grasp.*
Even his final intervention hadn't marred Lu Yang's haul—in fact, it erased a grave potential threat.
The [Sword Dao Fruit Position]!
*Bound originally to the Pure Land's United as One, I couldn't be sure reopening would sever the link.*
Severed, it might degrade.
Intact, it risked Pure Land turmoil, drawing the World Honored One's gaze—robbing Peter to pay Paul.
No concern now.
The World Honored One's strike had freed the [Sword Dao Fruit Position] entirely. The [Book of a Hundred Lives] could claim it cleanly.
*And then, [Seven Luminaries Heaven]!*
Lu Yang sank his mind into the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner, withdrawing a treasure pearl aglow with streaming radiance, boundless concepts seeming to ebb and flow within.
*[Long Flowing Water]*!
Extorted from [Soaring Empyrean], its power would mature the embryonic [Seven Luminaries Heaven] fruit position fully!
In the next breath, Lu Yang summoned [Seven Luminaries Heaven] and cast the pearl in. It shattered; boundless concepts surged like a breached dam, devoured ravenously by [Seven Luminaries Heaven], swelling ever more perfect and mighty!
*Now that's the true windfall!*
Excitement gleamed in Lu Yang's eyes, swiftly quelled.
*Two complete fruit positions... agonizing choice. Which to prove?*
Each shone for him.
[Seven Luminaries Heaven] was simple—even immediate proof possible.
[Sword Dao Fruit Position] demanded time; his [Sword Intent] fell short of former Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's near-perfection.
Yet [Sword Dao Fruit Position]'s potential dwarfed [Seven Luminaries Heaven].
*Pity: one person, one fruit position... unless I fuse [Seven Luminaries Heaven] and [Sword Dao Fruit Position] into one.*
Feasible?
Lu Yang pondered: promising!
*Qi-gathering arts... false holding via my present false golden cultivation, wedded to world-shocking wisdom, yields a second-grade method!*
Mind set, he invoked:
"Ancestor Master, lend aid!"
Ting You Ancestor Master's voice arose, slipping deftly into contemplation.
Lu Yang ceded [Yama Hall] control too, unleashing his genius unbound.
He had weightier tasks.
Beyond two complete fruit positions, another prize loomed immense.
Perfected Being Warding Evil, Wu Tai'an, Buddha Child Dharma Body, Xiang Ye, Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter... this false golden stance netted five Foundation Establishment gold essences!
[Book of a Hundred Lives] settlement: five golden talents!